Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-04-22

The door swung softly open and a
little child, perhaps six or seven years
old. slid softly into the room. S4.
Myra took scaEt note, but being by
nature kind and courteous, extended
an idle hand toward the tinid intruder.
Slowly the child crossed the room and
her baby hand slipped within the white
palm awaiting her Myra was gazing
ol.the street, d sky, anything or Moth
ing without the window. and the baby
stood quietly watching her brown eyes.
her shining hair, and amused herself
pla,ing with the ladys fingers and
rings. =s*@ NE. ~ Is $s 4 a a
The child's presence was comfort
ing. her silence a real charm, so, short
", Myra lifted her to her Ian. where
she too might view the scene outside.
Thought growing bitter and memory
a sting. Myra turned her attention to
the little one. '..- sgG
Who are you, dear; what is your
name p'' :: Z
Isabel ..
81 .'Have you run away from mama %
No; mama has gone away from me;
she is dead
& Myra pressed the child to her heart.
Poor little motherless one; why had
not fate given her the child !? Then
she had been spared the folly into
which she was now falling. While her
mind would run upon her own affairs,
as If to keep those clear blue baby eyes
from reading all her soul, she con-
tinEed to question the child at random.
Thus she learned that while the
mother had been some time dead, the
father had died only a few weeks be-
fore, here in the hotel; and it became
plain to Myra the child had no home,
no people, and only through pity was,
for the present, sheltered bv the
Temple House Then a silence fell,
and thought flew on the faster, while
the baby sat still on Myra's knee.
flashed and famed through Myras
mind9 Slowly the big tears welled up
to her brown eyes and dripped over
her fair, round cheek.
Was she already regretting her
wrong step, her voluntary fall from the
high places of principle, honor, and
respectability2 Aye!
And the little ones soft voice broke
in upon her fearful reyerie.
Did your papa think you had pretty
b ands, toop and did he pat and kiss
them too, like my papa did mine?''
Her father! At mention of him he
seemed to stand before her, and he had
been in the spirit land for years!
A gentle, honorable man, with soft
and silver hair, with kind eyes that
beamed with tenderness and pride and
fatherly love as they turned upon her!
Oh Lord of earth and heaven, what
must be his feelings toward her now !!
And she had been his pride and joy,
his darling only daughter! -.
h Why had no thought or memory of
her father reached her sooner and
saved her from this sinful step? Was
this strange. silent child an angel he
had sent to save her, even at this last
late, dreadful moment?
What did you sayp" cried Myra,
with startling vigor. But Baby Belle
was not frightened by her vehemence,
only bewildered, and she slowly repeat
ed her inquiry.
Myra held forth her hands and
looked at them. Never before had she
realized how very like her fathers
they were--now the resemblance was
startling indeed!
Yes, surely, her hands were fair
things to look upon, and their beauty
had been pride to her loving father.
How he had enjoyed giving her
pretty jewels, valuable rings, and
dainty gloves, yet always wisely teach
ing that a wonan's hands, to be fair
in sight Of men and angels, must be
ever adorned with charity, gentleness,
! and kindenss. And once-how vividly
it flashed to memory now-some grace
full, kind act of devotion to an old,
homeless, sick stranger, coming to his
knowledge, he had patted her hands
proudly, saying: Now 1 know these
dear hands belong to agood and Christ
ian girl! one not ashamed to be SEN
sible working Christian. and / am
proud, my Oh Id, to say these hands
are mine!'' Which last was in pla yful
reference to the strong resemblance to
to his own. And now see them! Her
fathers hands yet, held there before
Baby Belle, like some spirits warning,
and behold! she had forgotten to re-
move her wedding ring! Strange
omen! Strange thought! A runaway
wife still cherishing her wedding ring.
Perpaps it was the flash of that gold
band that saved and strengthened her.
A mighty revolution of thought and
feeling had swept her being this done
" afternoon. Her father had sent a
blue eyed angel to rescue her. lovely
little angel, whom she could reward
with love and care. Heaven had sent
the orphan across her path, and her
childish prattle had saved her. for
Myra's uneasy mind was settled, her
path was plain to see-she should re-
tnrn to her husbandl
Whether he would pardon her or not,
she should adopt the child and live to
love and guard her. III -
Isabel, do you like me?7'' she asked,
as earnestly as any lover might in flu
sture years. .s.z !. ,. ffis i. n. . y
Very MUCH was the sweet and
simple answer. & .>..t 5,' ,s.. = ...s...e-s
Enough, my baby, to give your
my little girl, as have none?'': =, ...as /,
And have q home, and you be my
mamma, You mean? asked Isabel.
SWlCh sparkling eyes. NJ T. "
ss 4 That IS i, my Baby Belle! Will
youp 4. ....E . E ss: (. s s.:x
And poor Myra waited with bated
breath. Heaven had been unkind. if
we dare say 50, when she loved child
rem so. &
S Baby looked straight into the loving
brown eyes, then with 4 snbdued sigh.
put down her golden head upon the
LADY breast and said: 3 sss .5s.
How good God was to send you
here to dayl Next week they were GO
ing @ send me g the Orphans Homer.